Phakic intraocular lens

Phakic intraocular lens (PIOL) is a special kind of intraocular lens that is implanted surgically into the eye to correct myopia (nearsightedness). They are called "phakic" because the eye's natural lens is left untouched. This is in contrast to intraocular lenses that are implanted into eyes after the eye's natural lens has been removed during cataract surgery.

Photo of an eye after PIOL-implantation, 24 hours after surgery. The lens is visible in front of the iris, the pupil is still small due to presurgery eyedrops.

Phakic intraocular lenses are indicated for patients with high refractive errors when the usual laser options for surgical correction (LASIK and PRK) are contraindicated.[1][2] Current Phakic IOLs are designed to correct high myopia ranging from -5 to -20 D if the patient has enough anterior chamber depth (ACD) of at least 3 mm.[3]

Three types of Phakic IOLs are currently available:

Indications

LASIK can correct myopia up to -12 to -14 D. The higher the intended correction the thinner and flatter the cornea will be post-operatively. For LASIK surgery, one has to preserve a safe residual stromal bed of at least 250 µm, preferably 300 µm. Beyond these limits there is an increased risk of developing corneal ectasia (i.e. corneal forward bulging) due to thin residual stromal bed which results in loss of visual quality. Due to the risk of higher order aberrations there is a current trend toward reducing the upper limits of LASIK and PRK to around -8 to -10 D.[4]

Phakic intraocular lenses are contraindicated in patients who do not have a stable refraction for at least 6 months or are 21 years of age or younger. Preexisting eye disorders such as uveitis are another contraindication.

Although PIOLs for hyperopia are being investigated, there is less enthusiasm for these lenses because the anterior chamber tends to be shallower than in myopic patients.

Corneal endothelial cell count less than 2000-2500 cells/mm² is a relative contraindication for PIOL implantation.[2]

Advantages

PIOLs have the advantage of treating a much larger range of myopic and hyperopic refractive errors than can be safely and effectively treated with corneal refractive surgery. The skills required for insertion are, with a few exceptions, similar to those used in cataract surgery. The equipment is significantly less expensive than an excimer laser and is similar to that used for cataract surgery. In addition, the PIOL is removable; therefore, the refractive effect should theoretically be reversible. However, any intervening damage caused by the PIOL would most likely be permanent. When compared with clear lens extraction, or refractive lens exchange the PIOL has the advantage of preserving natural accommodation and may have a lower risk of postoperative retinal detachment because of the preservation of the crystalline lens and minimal vitreous destabilization.[1]

Disadvantages

PIOL insertion is an intraocular procedure. With all surgeries there are associated risks. In addition, each PIOL style has its own set of associated risks. In the case of PIOLs made of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), surgical insertion requires a larger incision, which may result in postoperative astigmatism. By comparison, PIOLS made of collamer (a foldable gel-like substance) requires a very small incision due the flexibility of the material and thus significantly reduces astigmatism risk. In the cases where refractive outcomes are not optimal, LASIK can be used for fine-tuning. If a patient eventually develops a visually significant cataract, the PIOL will have to be explanted at the time of cataract surgery, possibly through a larger-than-usual incision.

Another concern is progressive shallowing of the anterior chamber which normally occurs with advancing age due to the growth of the eye's natural lens. Multiple studies have shown a 12-17 µm/year decrease in the anterior chamber depth with aging.[5][6] If a phakic IOL patient is assumed to have a 50-year lifespan, the overall decline in ACD may add up to 0.6-0.85 mm, long-term data about this effect are not available. This concern is more important in ICL because it is implanted in the narrowest part of the anterior segment.

Preoperative evaluation

Anterior chamber depth (ACD, i.e. the distance between the crystalline lens and cornea including the corneal thickness) is required before the surgery and measured with the use of ultrasound.

Iris-fixated IOLs are fixated to iris therefore they have the advantage of being one size (8.5 mm).

Sulcus-supported IOLs need to be implanted in the ciliary sulcus which may have various diameters among individuals, therefore anterior chamber diameter needs to be measured with a calliper or with the use of eye imaging instruments such as Orbscan and high frequency ultrasound. A calliper and Orbscan measure the external limbus-to-limbus diameter of anterior chamber (white-to-white diameter) which provides an approximate estimation of AC diameter but UBM and OCT offer a more adequate measurement of the sulcus diameter (sulcus-to-sulcus diameter) and should be used when available.[4]

Power calculation

The power of phakic lens is independent of the axial length of the eye. Rather it depends on central corneal power, anterior chamber depth (ACD) and patient refraction (preoperative spherical equivalent). The most common formula for calculating the power of phakic IOL is the following:[2]

P= {1000 n \over{1000 n \over K+R}-d}-{1000 n \over{1000 n \over K}-d}

P : Power of phakic IOL

n : Refractive Index of Aqueous (1.336)

K : Central corneal power in diopters

R : Patient Refraction at the corneal vertex

d : Effective lens position in mm

The effective lens position is calculated as the difference between the anterior chamber depth and the distance between the PIOL and the crystalline lens. From ultrasonographic examinations of PIOLs, the lens-optic distance shows less variability compared with the cornea-optic distance. Therefore, it is preferable to use measured ACD and subtract it with an ‘optic-lens’ constant to obtain the value of ELP. For the Artisan/Verisyse lens the optic-lens constant is 0.84 mm. The ICL power is calculated using the Olsen-Feingold formula by using a four variable formula modified by a regression analysis of past results.[3]

Surgical technique

The Artisan (Verisyse) lens is implanted under pharmacological miosis. After creating proper incision the lens is grasped with curved holding forceps and inserted. Once in the anterior chamber and while firmly holding the lens with forceps, temporal and nasal iris tissue is enclavated with a special needle. The operation is completed with an iridectomy and the incision in sutured.

The ICL is implanted under pharmacological mydriasis and implanted in the retropupillay position, between the eye's iris and the crystalline lens, using cartridge-injector or forceps.

Steroid antibiotic eye drops are usually prescribed for 2–4 weeks after surgery. Regular follow-ups are recommended.[4]

Complications

References

  1. 1 2 Basic and Clinical Science Course, Section 13: Refractive Surgery (2011-2012. ed.). American Academy of Ophthalmology. 2011–2012. pp. 125–136. ISBN 978-1615251209.
  2. 1 2 3 Lovisolo, CF; Reinstein, DZ (Nov–Dec 2005). "Phakic intraocular lenses.". Survey of ophthalmology 50 (6): 549–87. doi:10.1016/j.survophthal.2005.08.011. PMID 16263370.
  3. 1 2 Dimitri T. Azar ; Damien Gatinel (2007). Refractive surgery (2nd ed.). Philadelphia: Mosby Elsevier. pp. 397–463. ISBN 978-0-323-03599-6.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Myron Yanoff, Jay S. Duker (2009). Ophthalmology (3rd ed.). [Edinburgh]: Mosby Elsevier. pp. 186–201. ISBN 978-0-323-04332-8.
  5. ↑ Sun, JH; Sung, KR; Yun, SC; Cheon, MH; Tchah, HW; Kim, MJ; Kim, JY (May 2012). "Factors associated with anterior chamber narrowing with age: an optical coherence tomography study.". Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 53 (6): 2607–10. doi:10.1167/iovs.11-9359. PMID 22467582.
  6. ↑ Yan, PS; Lin, HT; Wang, QL; Zhang, ZP (Dec 2010). "Anterior segment variations with age and accommodation demonstrated by slit-lamp-adapted optical coherence tomography.". Ophthalmology 117 (12): 2301–7. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2010.03.027. PMID 20591484.
  7. ↑ Sanders, DR (Jun 2008). "Anterior subcapsular opacities and cataracts 5 years after surgery in the visian implantable collamer lens FDA trial.". Journal of refractive surgery (Thorofare, N.J. : 1995) 24 (6): 566–70. PMID 18581781.
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